The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-13
THE KILLING OF JOHN f OxNER
The InQuest-The Slayers Arrested and
Lodged in Jail.

On last Saturday, October 8th, Mr..
John F. O1ner, OF Maybinton, was shot
and instantly killed by William Murphy,
negro who had been working for Mr..
Oxner during the year.
Mr.. Oxner and Murphy had had some
misunderstanding. Murphy had been in
dicted by Mr.. Oxner before Trial Justice
Dickert for violation Of contract. and last
! Thursday was appointed for the trial, but
Mr.. Oxner did not appear and the case was
dismissed. On Saturday Murphy got a
wagon and went to move from Mr.. Oxner's.
He seems to have armed himself well, as he
had new pistol and shot gun. He was
accompanied by Judge Glenn, Jr. He was
,, not molested while at Mr.. Oxner's. After
going about half mile from Mr.. OXner' S
he and Glenn stopped their wagon and
began shooting at a mark, for what pur-
pose they do not explain. Mr.. Oxner,
hearing the shooting, got on his mule and
took his gun and rode down to see what
it meant, and was shot. The only living
witnesses as to what took place there are
Judge Glenn, Jr., whose testimony was
taken by the Coroner, and is published
herewith, and William Murphy, who did
the shooting. The Coroner held an in
quest Saturday night, and we give in this
connection the testimony taken by him.
THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONER.
Judge Glenn, Jr., sworn says he saw
J.F. Oxner killed between his house and
Maybinton. William Murphy killed him
with a doubled barreled shotgun belong
ing to Ike Glenn. Judges people told
him Will Murphy got Ike's gun to go
hunting. Deponent went with him to MIR.
Oxner's. Said he hoped Mr.. O1ner would
not bother him. Mr.. Oxner came up and
asked who shot the pistol Will replied,
me" Mr. Oxner asked Will if he did
not tell him be would shoot him. Viii
said, No you did not tell me So" Oxner
said "you lie, you heard me say so, and [
mean to get you and old man Reighly to-
day." I said to Mr.. O1ner, 60 back home
and let him alone be is nothing but boy.
Nh. Oxner stopped then, afterwards he
came up in galop and pointed bis gun at
Will and shot, and Will shot Oxner. VIII
said nothing after he shot Oxner. I
stopped the wagon when Will shot Oy1er.
He fell from his mule. went up to him.
Gun was loaded with No. shot. floaded
it few days ago. VIII was sitting on
left hand side of wagon over wheel. Shot
from Mr.. Oxner's gun struck wagon body
and left hind wheel. Don't know how far
Oxner was when he shot. Both shots
were close together. Had one gun and
gun barrel. VIII had a pistol. Oxner
was sitting on his mule with gun in right
hand. Oxner was on right side of wagon
when he shot at Will. Wills gun was
covered up under quilt when Oxner shot
at him. Had to uncover bis gun before
he could shoot. Will and myself shot at
tree five times. Did not see VIII re-
load his pistol. After Will shot Oy1er he
ran down the road and called him and
told him to 60 to Newberry and give him
self up. VIII Murphy is yellow boy
about twenty years old, has no beard,
straight legs, about five feet ten inches
high and weighs about one hundred and
fifty pounds, has rather l:rge eyes. Heard
Will and others say that Nh. Oxner and
VIII had a difficulty before. Said no
harm of Oxner the day of the shooting.
He hoped Mr.. Oxner would not bother
him. Said if Oxner run up on him he
would shoot. Will did not shoot first.
Both shots were about together. Told
DR.. Ruff this morning that I thought Will
was gone to hunt him. Will was sitting
not very far from corner of wagon where
Oxner's shot hit. Turned Mr.. Oxner
over on his back after he was shot and
crossed his hands. Did not touch his
gun. Wagon did not stop when Oxner
shot. thought VIII was shot. Never
told anybody he was. Oxner was not
dead when [ turned him over. Said
nothing. Saw him move his hand. Told
Mrs. Oyner not to go where he was shot,
Don't know who brought him to house.
Wagon was about stopped when VIII
Murphy fred.
Amor Ruff says be heard the shots fred
and they we're close together. Never
heard Will threaten Mr.. Oxner.
J. NJ. Henderson testified that he heard
MI. Presley tell Will Murphy that he was
Just now fixed to get into trouble as he
had just bought a pistol. Will Murphy
said Mr.. Cxner had run him from his
wife's house and he had nothing to defend
himself with, and he had bought a pistol
for that purpose.
w. E. Presley testified that he had
sold VIII Murphy a pistol on Friday.
Said he wanted something to kill rabbits
with. Sold him 80 calibre pistol and
sixteen cartridges.
Dr. J. NJ. II. Ruff certified that he had
examined the body of J. F. Oxner and
found that he had died from the effects of
a gun-shot wound penetrating the lett
side Of the chest.
The jury of inquest found in their YER
dict that Mr.. Oxner was killed by
William Murphy and that Judge Glenn,
Jr., IS accessory. Glenn was at once
arrested and brought to jail. If Murphy
had been captured Saturday night it is
likely be would have been summarily
dealt with, but he is now in jail and it is
much better that he was not caught.
Trial Justice G. P. Dicke15 managed to
capture Murphy on Sunday night and
carried him around through Union and
lodged him safe in jail Monday morning.
MI. J. F. O1ner was highly respect
able farmer OF the Maybinton portion OF
our county, was about Al years of age
and leaves wife and four little girls sur
viving him.
The whole affair is deeply to be re-
gretted. The negroes charged with the
homicide are now in jail and will have a
fair trial, and Newberry jury may Ibe
counted on to do it's duty.
Hallow, Charlie! Have you been
4 -, L.